Sofa-bed



(No Model.)

M. w. WARD. SOFA BED.

No. 453,224. Patented June 2, 1891.

I UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MICHAEL XV. l/VARD, OF JAMESTOVVN, NE\V YORK.

SOFA-BED.

SPEGIFIGATION'forming part of Letters Patent No. 453,224, dated June 2, 1891. Application filed November 28, 1890- Serial No. 372,780. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it ,known that 1, MICHAEL W. WARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jamestown, in the county of Chautauqua and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sofa-Beds; and

. I do hereby declare the following to be full,

clear, and exact description of the invent-ion, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a sofa-bed embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an end viewshowing the back portion let down to convert the sofa into a bed. Fig. 3 is a detail to be referred to.

My invention relates to sofas, divans, and

analogous articles of that class employing a back portion, which is adapted to be let down to convert the sofa, divan, 850., into a bed; and my invention consists in the constructions, arrangements, and combinations of devices which I shall hereinafter fully describe and claim.

In the drawings I have shown my invention applied to a sofa-bed of Well-known form; but the same is equally applicable to d vans and other articles of furniture employing a hinged portion, which is adapted to be moved into a horizontal position to convert said article into a bed.

The seat-frameA in said drawings is of the usual form, supported upon legs a, and provided with a head-section divided longitudinally into two parts I) and c, hinged together at one end and adapted to be thrown back when the back-frame O is in a horizontal position to serve as the head-section of the bed. The back frame is of any well-known and appropriate form and construct-ion, and 1S. JOllled to the seat-frame by hinges d, while in each of its end pieces is formeda groove e, in which is fitted and adapted to slide a rod or bar D, as shown in Fig. 1, the said end pieces having secured to them over the sliding rod or bar a plate E, (see Fig. 3,) which serves to cover the sliding rod or bar and to confine the same in its seat in the grooved face of the end pieces.

Passing longitudinally through the outer end of the back-frame, and being gournaled to rotate in its end pieces, is a rod G, whose ends .1 h the ends of said back-frame,

and have secured to them by a nut or otherwise the legs H, carrying casters h, and having pivotally connected with them at points near the centers thereof one endof links L, whose opposite ends are also pivotally connected to the sliding rods or bars D.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1 they form a sofa, whose back-frame is securely braced by the sliding rods or bars D being projected down back of the seat-frame, so that they rest against the same, the legs and links connected with said rod or bar being in this instance folded in beneath the covering-plate E, (which maybe cut away forthat purpose,) so that they are out of sight, and a finished appearance given tothe ends of said backframe. I

To convert the sofa shown in Fig. 1 into a bed, as shown in Fig. 2, the operator simply pulls outward either one of the legs H, which movement being instantly communicated to the other leg and to the links L causes the latter to draw the sliding rods or bars D back into their grooved seat far enough to permit the backframe to be let down into a horizontal position. hen this latter position is obtained, it will be found that the sliding rods or bars have their ends abutting against the back of the seat-frame, while their opposite ends bear against the heads or upper ends of the legs, whereby they are securely confined against movement either in or out, and the legs H, through the medium of the links L, are securely braced and maintained in their proper positions. To again change the form of article and to convert the bed into a sofa the operator simply raises the back-frame, when the legs I-I automatically swing inward, forcing the links ahead of them and projecting the ends of the sliding rods or bars, so that they will pass down behind the back of the seat-frame and hold the back-frame in a vertical or nearly vertical position, as shown in Fig. 1. Thus it will be seen that a single movement changes the positions of the parts and permits a quick conversion of sofa to bed, and vice versa, without any adjustment of parts.

The several operating parts are simple and durable and not liable to derangement, and

may in many instances be applied to those sofa-beds now employing a hinged back-frame.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a sofa or analogous article having a back-frame hinged to its seat-frame, a rod passing longitudinally through the backframe and having legs secured to its outer ends, the rods or bars mounted to slide in the ends of the back-frame and to bear against the seat-frame when the back-frame is in both horizontal and vertical positions, and link connections between the sliding rods or bars and the legs, whereby the rods or bars are drawn in or projected by the movements of the legs, substantially as herein described.

2. In a sofa or analogous article, the backframe thereof hinged to the seat-frame and having its ends grooved, in combination with bars fitted to slide in said grooves and hearing against the seat-frame when the backframe is in both its horizontal and vertical positions, a rod mounted to turn in said backframe and provided with legs which support the back-frame in a horizontal position, and links pivotally secured to said legs and sliding bars, whereby said bars are projected or drawn in as the legs move, substantially as herein described.

3. In a sofa or analogous article, the combination, with the seat-frame and the backframe hinged thereto and adapted to be let down into a horizontal position, of bars seated in grooves in the ends of the back-frame and bearing against said seat-frame when the back-frame is in either a horizontal or vertical position, covering-plates for said bars, a rod passing through the back-frame and having legs secured to its outer ends, and links connecting the legs with the bars, said legs automatically swinging inward when thebackframe is raised from its horizontal position, substantially as herein described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MICHAEL W. WARD.

\Vitnesses:

HENRY J. YATES, AARON WILBUR. 

